Featured Flower: Chrysanthemums

Matt Wilson
Nov 26, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Jan 5

A Classic Bloom with a Long, Fascinating Journey

Chrysanthemums—mums, as most of us call them—may be the unofficial flower of autumn. But behind that familiar name lies a world of history, artistry, and incredible diversity. With thousands of varieties and every imaginable shape, chrysanthemums are among the most customizable flowers for home gardeners. Here in Zone 9b, they’re not only possible—they’re deeply rewarding.

Let’s dig into their origins, the stunning range of forms, and what home gardeners should know before growing them.

Where It All Began

The story of chrysanthemums begins in ancient China, where they were cultivated as early as the 15th century BCE. At that time, they weren’t grown for their ornamental value but for their medicinal and symbolic importance. Chrysanthemum petals and roots were brewed into teas and tonics believed to support longevity, calm the spirit, and promote health. Because of these associations with wisdom and a long life, the chrysanthemum became one of the “Four Gentlemen” in traditional Chinese art—plants that represented virtuous character.

As the plant traveled east, it found a second home in Japan, arriving around the 8th century. There, chrysanthemums became so cherished that the Imperial family adopted them as their official crest. The Japanese Emperor’s throne is still called the Chrysanthemum Throne, a testament to the flower’s cultural significance. Japanese growers developed meticulous training and pruning techniques, refining the blooms into dramatic forms displayed at annual chrysanthemum festivals. These shows—featuring enormous incurves, towering cascades, and perfectly trained single blooms—elevated mum growing into an art practiced with patience and reverence.

By the time chrysanthemums arrived in Europe in the 1600s, they were already highly developed. Growers in Asia had spent centuries selecting unusual petal shapes, colors, and forms. European botanists and gardeners were captivated. In the 1800s, chrysanthemum societies formed in England and France, and growers competed to produce the largest and most perfectly shaped blooms. As the Victorians adopted the flower into decorative gardens and bouquets, mums came to symbolize loyalty, joy, and the beauty of the changing season.

A Surprising Side Note Most People Don’t Know

Chrysanthemums also played an unexpected role in agriculture and public health. Certain species—especially Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium—produce pyrethrins, natural compounds found in the flower’s seed heads. These pyrethrins became the foundation for some of the earliest botanical insecticides. They work by disrupting insects’ nervous systems and break down quickly in the environment, making them safer and more natural than many synthetic chemicals. Most people never realize that the same flower glowing in autumn gardens also helped shape one of the world’s most widely used natural pest controls.

When chrysanthemums reached America in the 18th century, they quickly became popular garden plants. Breeders introduced even more shapes and colors, blending Asian heirloom forms with new hybrid lines. Today, chrysanthemums stand as one of the most hybridized ornamental plants in the world, with more than 3,000 years of horticultural history behind them.

The Many Shapes of Chrysanthemums

(The Reason Growers Get Addicted)

If your mental picture of a chrysanthemum is the rounded “garden mum” sold in fall, prepare to be surprised. Specialty and heirloom varieties come in an astonishing range of forms, each with its own personality.

Spider mums are among the most dramatic, with long, curling petals that twist like fireworks or sea anemones. Many petals split into fine filaments at the ends, giving them movement and texture that stands out in the garden and the vase.

Spoon mums are charming and whimsical, with petals that flare into tiny spoon-shaped tips. Their blooms often catch and reflect light in a way that makes them look almost illuminated.

Quill mums offer a sleek, architectural look. Their straight tubular petals radiate cleanly from the center, giving the blooms a structured, modern elegance.

Incurve mums are the classic exhibition types—big, globe-like blooms with petals that gently fold inward, creating a perfect sphere of color. These are the showstoppers you often see in competitions.

Reflex mums are their graceful opposite. Their petals arch downward in soft, flowing curves, creating a more open, draping form that feels effortless and romantic.

Anemone mums feature a raised cushion-like center surrounded by a ring of petals, resembling a highly stylized daisy. They have a cheerful, friendly look that fits beautifully into home gardens.

Pompon mums are small, perfectly rounded blooms composed of many layers of tiny petals. These petite spheres add texture and last exceptionally long in arrangements.

And then there are single and semi-double mums, which resemble daisies and are loved by pollinators late into the season, when many other blooms have packed up for the year.

When it comes to shapes, chrysanthemums truly offer something for every gardener—from the sculptural and dramatic to the classic and charming.

Heirlooms vs. Modern Hybrids

With so many years of breeding behind them, chrysanthemums fall into two broad categories: heirlooms and modern hybrids.

Heirloom chrysanthemums are older cultivars passed down through generations. They often have the most intricate forms and richest colors. They behave as true perennials in Zones 5–9, returning year after year with stronger growth. Many of the extraordinary spider, incurve, and vintage forms come from heirloom lines.

Modern hybrids, especially the “garden mums” you see sold in nurseries each fall, are bred primarily for uniformity and mass production. They bloom all at once, form tidy domes, and offer a quick burst of color. While easy and beautiful for seasonal decorating, many are not bred for long-term performance and may not overwinter well in warmer climates.

Both have their place, but for gardeners who love unique shapes and want dependable plants that return each year, heirlooms deliver much more personality.

Growing Chrysanthemums in Zone 9b

Zone 9b is an excellent climate for growing chrysanthemums, especially heirloom varieties. However, timing and shaping matter.

The ideal planting window is February through April, giving young plants a head start before the heat of summer. Mums thrive in full sun—at least six hours a day—and appreciate well-draining soil enriched with compost. Good drainage is essential, as soggy roots are one of the few things mums refuse to tolerate.

Shaping through pinching is key. When plants reach 6–8 inches tall, removing the growing tip encourages branching. Continue pinching every few weeks until mid-July. After that, it’s best to let plants grow naturally so buds can form.

Water deeply and consistently, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings but not completely. Feed regularly through spring and early summer to support strong stems and vibrant color. Then ease off as buds set—it helps the plants shift energy from growth to flowering.

The Joy of Harvesting Mums

Harvesting chrysanthemums can be a delightful experience. As the blooms reach their peak, we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. The vibrant colors and unique shapes bring joy to our gardens and homes.

When cutting, it's best to do so in the early morning or late afternoon. This timing helps preserve the flowers' freshness. Use sharp shears to snip the stems at an angle. This technique allows for better water uptake.

Once harvested, we can arrange them in vases or use them in floral designs. The beauty of chrysanthemums shines in every setting, making them a wonderful addition to any occasion.

Propagation: Seed or Cuttings?

While chrysanthemums can be grown from seed, seedlings rarely resemble the parent plant and often produce simpler, less showy blooms. They’re fun for experimentation but unpredictable for gardeners seeking specific forms.

Cuttings are the gold standard. Nearly all heirloom mums are shared this way because cuttings preserve the exact characteristics—shape, color, size, and bloom time—that make each variety special. Plants grown from cuttings flower earlier, grow more reliably, and show the full beauty of the heirloom lines.

If you want true spider, incurve, spoon, or pompon mums, cuttings are the way to go.

Why We Love Growing Mums

There’s something undeniably magical about chrysanthemums. They begin quietly in spring, grow steadily through summer, and then—just when the garden starts to fade—they burst into color with shapes and textures you can’t find anywhere else.

In Zone 9b, mums are especially rewarding. With the right timing and a bit of shaping, they return each year with even more vigor, offering one of the most dramatic fall displays a home gardener can grow.

Whether we’re drawn to the elegance of quill mums or the playful charm of spoon varieties, chrysanthemums have a way of becoming an autumn tradition—one we’ll look forward to year after year.

So, let’s embrace the beauty of these blooms and create our own chrysanthemum-filled gardens. After all, there’s nothing quite like the joy of nurturing these stunning flowers and watching them thrive.